I didn't think that it was dirty, but it was certainly reckless. When you're down too much to come back, and there's like a 1% chance that you stop that basket, you shouldn't do that. Especially in an exhibition game. Glad everything turned out ok.

MDLzera

Serbia will face Argentina in the QFs, who was not expecting to get them. Which also means that if we beat Brazil, we'd get Serbia in the semis rather than the gold medal game. I suppose we could tank the Brazil game if we want to avoid that, not that Pop would ever do such a thing.

edit: aaaaaaand Jokic is ejected with a second tech, for talking a lot of shit at the refs after just getting a tech.

bet squelcher

Not unbeatable at all but I'm ecstatic that they laid their egg in a meaningless game prior to the QF. It's exactly what they needed after probably thinking that getting to a Gold Medal game was going to be a cakewalk.

My primary reason for fading this USA team at the ridiculous price they are favored is their overall lack of international experience. It truly is a different game played under different rules on a different continent.

Member

Not unbeatable at all but I'm ecstatic that they laid their egg in a meaningless game prior to the QF. It's exactly what they needed after probably thinking that getting to a Gold Medal game was going to be a cakewalk.

My primary reason for fading this USA team at the ridiculous price they are favored is their overall lack of international experience. It truly is a different game played under different rules on a different continent.

Yeah, you hit the nail on the head about the rules. At the beginning of the tournament, I was thinking that the 2-3 (no def 3 second) and wider line weren't going to be a big deal. If anything, the wider lane probably helps a team like us that's basically playing almost all wings. But clearly the foul-calling is an adjustment for these guys. Lots of stuff that gets called in the NBA is not being called, and stuff that doesn't get called is. And the easy go-to ISO plays just aren't as automatic.

I hope that Pop and Kerr have some transition offense magic in their back pockets. This US team would have a much easier run if they didn't have to grind every good look.

MDLzera

edit: if Brazil beats the US, somehow the Czech Republic advances? Yeah Brazil advances with a win, but with a loss Czech Republic owns the tiebreaker on point differential among games with tied teams.

Member

edit: if Brazil beats the US, somehow the Czech Republic advances? Yeah Brazil advances with a win, but with a loss Czech Republic owns the tiebreaker on point differential among games with tied teams.

Member

Australia up 2 over France with about a minute left. Gorbert fouls out. Mills has at least 30. Apparently Baynes has taken three charges and hit five threes (all from Twitter so no guaranty on accuracy).

Argentina (Scola vs Jokic) is probably a better match up for USA's productive smaller lineups. Speaking of which, I like what I've seen from Brown defensively and am curious to see him play the 4/5 the rest of this tournament. I could see him gaining some confidence playing a major role on a gold medal team.

Member

Argentina (Scola vs Jokic) is probably a better match up for USA's productive smaller lineups. Speaking of which, I like what I've seen from Brown defensively and am curious to see him play the 4/5 the rest of this tournament. I could see him gaining some confidence playing a major role on a gold medal team.

I’m just here for this new version of benhogan who’s all-in on Jaylen as a 5.

Agree that Jokic would have been a bad matchup for this particular US team. Also getting a bit lower on Myles Turner—the theory of him doesn’t quite match what I see on the floor, but that could be a FIBA vs NBA thing.

In a game where most of the team was negative, Team USA was a +7 with Marcus Smart on the floor (led all players). Smart also missed 4 free throws. Where have we seen this before?

Kemba had a bad game, and Brown was meh -- shit happens sometimes, especially in single elimination FIBA tournaments. France is a decent team, and even the best NBA teams have WTF losses every now and then.

Member

Agree with this. And in my green tinted view if Tatum was healthy and had suited up he would have helped the team to a victory today. In any case, this has been a great team building exercise for the Celtics.

Member

Maybe the world has caught up a little bit more than the previous times the US sent second- or third-tier players to a major tournament and lost. But if the US sends its best, it wins. Just as true now as it was 30 years ago.

Member

Agreed with the above. This is not the tournament to make the world catch up argument. For the most part, the other countries sent their best players. We did not. If Team USA had sent LeBron, Davis, Kawhi, Harden and Curry, every game would have been a blowout and we would not be discussing anything other than that.

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